Syria and Iran: Middle Powers in a Penetrated Regional System - Hardcover

Ehteshami, Anoushiravan; Hinnebusch, Raymond A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0415156750 ISBN 13: 9780415156752

Publisher: Routledge, 1997

Synopsis

It has been the dominant view that both Syria in the 1980s and Iran today have acted as rogue states in the Middle East threatening to upset the stability of the region. In this innovative new study, Anoushiravan Ehteshami and Raymond Hinnebusch show that these two countries have in fact acted in a rational fashion pursuing the aim of containing Western influence.
This book demonstrates how Syrian foreign policy resembles the "rational actor" model and Iran's rational factions in government guide its diplomacy. Syria and Iran's foreign policies are shown to be conventional ones, of "realist" diplomacy with their pursuance of a balance of power and spheres of influence. Their alliance with each other is also closely examined and found to be defensive in nature.
Syria and Iran illustrates how these two countries, and their alliance, forms an integral part of the balance of power in the Middle East. It is an exciting contribution to the study of the region, and its application of international relations concepts will be welcomed by those studying this area.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

It has been the dominant view that both Syria in the 198Os and Iran in the 199Os acted as rogue states in the Middle East, threatening to upset the stability of the region. In this innovative study, Anoushiravan Ehteshami and Raymond Hinnebusch show that these two countries have in fact acted in a rational fashion, pursuing the aim of containing Western influence. This book demonstrates how Syrian foreign policy resembles the 'rational actor' model and how Iran's government factions are compatible with a pragmatic foreign policy. Syria and Iran's foreign policies are shown to be conventional ones, of 'realist' diplomacy with their pursuance of a balance of power and spheres of influence. Their alliance with each other is also closely examined and found to be defensive in nature. The objectives in Lebanon and in the Arab-Israeli conflict are found to be limited.

About the Author:

Anoush Ehteshami is Reader in International Relations at the University of Durham. Raymond A. Hinnebusch is Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies and International Relations at the University of St. Andrews.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0415156750
• ISBN 13: 9780415156752
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 248